Using Remote Assistance to support users

Create a shortcut to Offer Remote Assistance

On Windows Vista/2008

  1. On the Desktop, Right-Click and select “New” –> “Shortcut”.
  2. Enter “MSRA.exe /expert” (without qoutes) and hit next.
  3. Give the shortcut a name and click Finish.

You can also use MSRA /offerRA [computer]

On Windows XP/2003

  1. On the Desktop, Right-Click and select “New” –> “Shortcut”.
  2. Enter “hcp://CN=Microsoft%20Corporation,L=Redmond,S=Washington,C=US/Remote%20Assistance/Escalation/Unsolicited/Unsolicitedrcui.htm” (without qoutes) and hit next.
  3. Give the shortcut a name and click Finish.
  4. If you want the typical remote assistance icon go to WINDOWSsystem32 and choose rcimlby.exe

Group Policies

You will also need some GPO settings for Remote Assistance and Windows Firewall (if it is on, which it should be)

Remote Assistance

Computer Configuration
   Administrative Templates
      System
         Remote Assistance
            Offer Remote Assistance                                             Enabled
               Allow helpers to remotley control the computer            DomainHelperGroup

Firewall

Computer Configuration
   Administrative Templates
      Network
         Network Connections
            Windows Firewall
               Domain Profile
                  Windows Firewall: Define Program Exceptions            Enabled
                     %systemroot%system32sessmgr.exe:*:enabled:sessmgr.exe
                     %systemroot%PCHEALTHHELPCTRBinarieshelpsvc.exe:*:enabled:helpsvc.exe
                  Windows Firewall: Define port exceptions: Enabled
                      135:TCP:[subnet or adresses]:enabled:Offer Remote Assistance – Port   

Links

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/27431-shortcut-offer-remote-assistance.html
http://www.errorforum.com/microsoft-windows-vista-error/1034-windows-vista-tip-offer-remote-assistance.html
http://brettlive.com/2007/02/28/offer-remote-assistance-in-vista/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555179
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Using-Remote-Assistance-Windows-Firewall-Enabled.html

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